The Portland daily press., 1887-02-04

Just rights and privileges of the inhabitants for
whose benefit such schools were established.
Provided however, that in case of any school
having as now established, or which shall here
after have, too few scholars for its profitable
maintenance, the experimenting school commit
tee may suspend the operation of such school for
not more than one year. unless otherwise instruct
ed by the town. and may provide for the scholars
belonging thereto in other district, for which pur-
pose they may. If in their Judgment necessary,
procure the conveyance of said scholar to such
other schools and pay for the same from the
Scn00l moneys OF the town.
Sec A. Tie corporate powers of any school
district shall continue under this act so far as the
same may be necessary for the meeting of its liza
blllties and the enforcing of its rights; and any
property held in trust by any school district. by
virtue OF gift, devise or bequest for the benefit
OF said district, shall continue to be held and used
according to the terms thereof.
Sec 8. The school moneys of every town shall
be so expended as TO give, as nearly as practical
Die, the same aggre gate annual length of terms in
all its schools; and every town shall make provs-
ION for the maintenance OF al its schools, for not
less tlan twenty school weeks annually. Any
town falling to maintain its schools as provided in
this sectien shall be thereby debarred from draw
ing its State school money, till it shall have
made suitable provision for so maintaining them
See. 6. All laws and parts of laws inconsistent
herewith are hereby repealed.
See. Z. This act shall take effect on the first day
OF April, 1877.
Our Forests.
The following bill relating to our forests
was introduced today:
Sec. Lit shall be the duty OF the assessors of
each town, on or before the first day Of October,
1887, 10 make careful estimate of the area and
condition as to the stage of growth, density and
character of forest land in their several towns
also the areas OF waste and barren land on which
valuable forest trees. might be grown. and report
the same to the Secretary of State A consolidat-
ed summary OF these returns as to the same mat
ter otherwise gathered by the Secretary Of State
shall be included in his annual report.
sec. 2.-Ihe seectmen OF every town, as afore-
said, and IN which forest fire of more than an
acre IN extent has occurred within year. shall
report to the Secretary Of State the extent of
burned over TO the best of their information, to-
gether with the probable amount Of property de-
stroyed, specifying the value of timber as near as
may be, and amount of cord wood logs, bark or
other forest product, and fencing, bridges and
buildings that have been burned They shall al
SO make inquiries and report as to the cause of
these fires, II they can be ascertain9d and as to
the measures employed and found most effective
in checking their progress. A summary of these
returns by counties, and OF the information other
wise gathered by the Secretary Of State shall be
included in his annual report.
Blanks for the reports required in this act shall
be furnished by the secretary of State to the
eral towns, at the expense of the State.
Accompanying the bill is resolution look
ing to commission, consisting of the Cover
nor and six other persons, citizens of the
State, to constitute commission to inquire
into the extent to which the forests of the
State are being destroyed by the indiscrimi-
nate cutting OF wood and timber; also to as
certain the effect produced ON our ponds and
streams through the destruction of forests.
Ihls commission would serve without pay,
with the exception of the necessary expenses
Incurred in collecting the required facts.
The Public Debt and Sinking Fund.
The following bill which was drawn up by
Messrs. Burleigh and Manley was presented
in the House today
An Act to renew portion of the public debt
and TO limit the operations of the sinking fund.
Be IL enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-.
sefttdtaces IN Legislature assembled as fof01cs.
Section 1. For the purpose of renewing and ex-
tending such portions OF the bonds of this State
mature and may be outstanding on the firsf day
and for paying the temporary loan authorized BY
section two OF this act, the Treasurer of State is
hereby authorized TO issue new bonds, in sums of
not less than one thousand dollars each, with coll-
pOnS attached Tor the payment Of the interest at
rate not TO exceed three per cent per annum, pay
able seIn-annually, and both principal and inter
est payable in Boston or at the treasury of
Maine. The bonds so issued shall bear date the
first day of October eighteen hundred and eighty-
nine and be payable to the amount of fifty thou
sand dollars per annum for twelve years, begin
nlng with the year eighteen hundred and ninety;
seventy thousand dollars per annum for ten years
beginning with the year nineteen hundred and
two; seventy-eight thousand dollars per annum
ter ten years beginning with the yeaf nineteen
hundred and twelve. and ninety thousand dollars
per annum for eight years beginning with the year
nineteen hundred aud TWENTY-FIVE In case the
balance due on the public debt in eighteen hum
dred and eighty-nine shall vary from two millions
eight hundred thousand dollars, then the division
OF the yearly payments shall be made by the treas
urer Tor the same period of time, and in the ratio
that the foregoing appointment bears to the true
amount of the debt then to be renewed Each
bond SO issued shall be signed by the treasurer,
cOunJerSlgned by the GOverdor and aIteSted by
the Secretary of State with the seal of the State
the coupons to be signed bv the treasurer only or
the name of the treasurer may be engraved there
treasurer lp wal pf fln Cnu
ernOr III writing shall have the right to negotiate
the sale OF this loan or may advertise for propo-
expedient.
ect 2. In order to provide for the payment of
that portion Of the public debt maturing and re-
naming unpaid on the first day of June, eighteen
hundred and eghty-nne, the Treasurer Of State
is hereby authorized to procure ON the faith of the
State temporary loan or loans sufficient to ae-
complish that purpose, and he is hereby authoriz-
ed in behalf of the State TO give notes for the
same relmbursable within five months with inter-
est.
Sect 3-The treasurer Of the State with the APP
proNal Of the Governor in writing, is hereby au-
tnorzed at any time after the passage Of this act,
10 issue and exchange any of the bonds author
lied by section one of this act for equal amount
Of the bonds of the State now outstanding on such
Terms as In his Judgment, and in the opinion OF the
Governor, shall be advantageous to the State In
case OF exchange the new bonds shall be dated at
the time of the surrender of the old but the inter-
est shall not begin to accrue thereon until the
first day Of October, eighteen hundred and eighty
nine.
Sect. 4-The treasurer Of State, with the ap-
e s u sg W. m 81 N NV wIlg y atzed @ 70
fund, exclusive of the State of Maine securities
therein, and may apply the proceeds thereof to
the purchase Of such outstanding bonds of the
State as may be obtained at prices which, in his
opinion, and the Judgment Of tine Governor, shall
be advantageous to the State.
Sect. 5-The treasurer of State Is hereby au-
thorlZed and directed to cancel all State of Maine
bonds now in the sinking fund, or such as may
hereafter be purchased for the State the interest
thereon no
moneys shall hereafter be paid to the fund for in
terest ON bonds Of this STATE. The bonds afore
said shall be destroyed in the presence Of the
JOINT committee appointed by the Governor and
Council TO examine the treasurer's accounts.
Sect. 6-The annual appropriation from taxa
tion for the principal Of the sinking fund provided
for IN section Twenty-Five chapter two of the Re
vised Statutes is hereby terminated.
Sect. 7-All acts or parts of acts Inconsistent
with this act are hereby repealed.
proved
Pay of Justices.
There is difference of opinion between
House and Senate sover this short bill, O.
which Mr.. Walton of Skowhegan, is th,
author.
| In criminal cases judges of municipal courts
and trial justices except when otherwise provided
shall be allowed the trial if an issue, or for hear
| ing on examination ON a plea of guilty or mol
| coItendere, the same fees as are allowed in tn
| trial Of civil actions.
| Yesterday IN the Senate Mi. Heath salt
| the effect of the bill, as he understood il
was would be to increase the pay of .tria
| justices and judges of municipal courts, ant
the Senate were persuaded to indefnitel,
| postpone the bill. This morning in tn
House Mr.. Walton persuaded the House t
non-concur with the Senate. Mr.. Waltol
said that good trial justices could not be oh
tanned without paying for them. So h
thought the bill ought to be insisted upon.
Mr.. Wright Of Paris of the legal affair
committee supported Mr.. Walton.
The Age of Consent.
The ladies had their way before the CON
mittee on legal affairs this afternoon Th
committee met in Representatives Hall, an
the arguments of the ladies divided with til
Bar Harbor hearing, where sharp lawyer
were wrangling, the crowds that freQuente
the State House at that hour. The bills be
fore the committee were those which MI
Looney introduced some time ago to rails
the age at which girl may consent to he
own ruin from 10 years to IS. The most rt
| ftt1 {ta.,At